Old Leighlin 3-08
Palatine 1-14
Three first half goals from Tadhg Roche, Mikey Bambrick and Aaron Amond sent Old Leighlin on their way to their first point of the season against Palatine at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday evening in the third round of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Carlow Senior Football Championship.
It was a surprise result given both sides’ fortunes to date.
Palatine had comfortably secured two consecutive victories ahead of this encounter, while Old Leighlin were coming off the back of two straight defeats.
But an exciting and free-flowing first half went in favour of the underdogs thanks to their goal threat and points from Seamus Kinsella, Thomas Sheehan (2), David Bambrick and Cathal Coughlan (2).
Palatine stayed in the clash through a fine goal from midfielder Conor Crowley and equally fine scores from free taker Shane O’Neill to leave the scoreboard reading Old Leighlin 3-06 to 1-05 at the half-time interval.
O’Neill tacked on two more frees at the start of the second half before Jamie Kenny pointed to reduce the gap to four points for Pado Flynn’s team.
Mikey Bambrick and Seamus Kinsella responded for the men in blue and white but two more O’Neill frees made it a one-score game with ten minutes remaining, Old Leighlin 3-08 to 1-11 Palatine.
Conor Crowley and Shane O’Neill got points back for Palatine as they remained unbeaten with five points from three games.
Old Leighlin saw out the game towards the end to seal a first victory of the season.
